White spot, otherwise known as “ick,” is a parasite that appears on the body and fins of your fish. It may look like grains of sand or clump to form larger patches of white. Your fish may behave differently with an infestation. Watch for signs of excessive rubbing, itching, lethargy, and loss of appetite.

White spot disease can be prevented by quarantining new fish for 14 to 21 days. When you add new plants to your aquarium, make sure they come from tanks that contained only plants and had no fish in them. White spot can be treated with a white spot medication or a multi-purpose product.